Multi-year calendar



Nov. 14, 1967 D. L. CHASTEEN 3,352,044

MULTI-YEAR CALENDAR Filed Sept. 7, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Douglas L.Chosfeen,

FIG.2Y BY INVENTOR 14, 1967 D. 1.. CHASTEEN MULTI-YEAR CALENDAR 3 $heets-Sheet Filed Sept. 7, 1965 Douglas L.Chasteen,

' INVENTOR United States Patent ()1 3,352,044 lWULTI-YEAR CALENDAR Douglas L. Chasteen, 308 Mountain Gap Road SE., Huntsville, Ala. 35803 Filed Sept. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 485,166 1 Ciaim. (Ci. 40115) This invention relates to calendars, and is most particularly concerned with a multi-year calendar which 18 simple, without complicated instructions, is compact and easily manipulated for the correct display of any past, present or future calendar month for the 200 year period from 1800 through 1999.

In the prior art there are calendars for varying periods of years, commonly referred to as perpetual or multi-year calendars which are structurally varied, but generally they employ separate formulas or complex systems for determining leap year. Difficulty in the past has been the Gregorian calendar leap year pattern, as, for example, the absence of any leap year between the years 1896 and l904.

It is the object of this invention to overcome difficulties experienced with leap year and to provide an improved multi-year calendar. Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1-4 show front views of circular discs forming the basic components of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the calendar assembly;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the calendar assembly; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the calendar assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the circular member or disc shown therein, and referred to hereinafter as first circular member A, is divided in 64 circular segments, which segment, for purposes of designation are numbered in a counterclockwise direction commencing with the numeral 1, a reference radial position. To avoid cluttering of the drawing only each fifth segment is numbered. In the system of the invention disc A has available eight circular regions for data storage. These regions, which are designated by Roman numerals I-VIII, are divided into circular areas from the periphery inward in numerical order for fixed distances sufiicient to store and indicate the data involved in the computations required. Actually, circular member or disc A displays data only in regions I, V, VI, VII, and VIII. Data is displayed in corresponding (positioned opposite) regions II and III of circular member or disc B in FIG. 2 and data is displayed in corresponding circular region IV on disc C of FIG. 3. By dividing circular disc members into circular regions the effect is to divide the segmented circles into segment spaces in each circular region, which segment spaces provide or transmit data by being marked with discrete bits of information, by being left blank, or by being perforated.

The peripheral or first circular region I of disc A is arranged with January in segment space 1, May in space 2, April and July in space 6, February in space 9, June in space 10, August in space 15, October in space 18, September and December in space 22, and March and November in space 26.

Days of the week are set forth in regions VI, VII, and VIII. In circular region VI, Monday is designated in space 1, Saturday in space 5, Thursday in space 9, and Wednesday in space 61. In circular region VII, Tuesday is in space 2. Wednesday in space 3, Thursday in space 4, Sunday in space 6, Monday in space 7, Tuesday in space 8 and spaces 10-59 indicate successive sets of four normally sequential days of the week wherein the first set commences with Friday and ends with Monday and wherein there is a gap of one day in between each set of four days. Thursday, Friday and Saturday appear in spaces 62, 63 and 64, respectively, of region VII. Sunday appears in Patented Nov. 14, 1967 the first space of region VIII, Friday in space 5 of that region and Wednesday in space 9 of that region.

As a further feature of the invention the first circular member of disc A is coded to provide leap year indications. This coding is provided in the fifth circular region of, disc A in the segment spaces 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37 and 41, when counted counterclockwise from the reference radial position as stated above. By further intrasegment space coding not only are leap years indicated but leap year signals are pin-pointed to February of leap years and do not appear otherwise. This intra-space coding is accomplished by dividing each pertinent space up into four areas or positions. As shown the four corners of a space are used wherein:

(1) Dots in spaces 9, 25, and 41 are first or 1 position (i ots in spaces 17 and 33 are second or g position (3; l ots in spaces 13 and 29 are third or h position dots; (4 l )ots in spaces 21 and 37 are fourth or i position dots.

The second circular member or disc B of the multi-year calendar is shown in FIG. 2. It is adapted to overlap disc A face up and its periphery coincides with the inner boundary of the first designated circular region of disc A and thus its first or outer circular region is circular r gion II. Circular region II has data in two spaces, the numeral 19 in space 1, and numeral 18 in space 5. In circular region III of disc B the numeral 0 appears in space 1, S-appears in space 3, 6 appears in space 5, 9 appears in space 7, 1 appears in space 11, 4 appears in space 13, 7 appears in space 15, 2 appears in space 21, 5 appears in space 23, and 8 appears in space 25. Counting is counterclockwise from a reference radial position, corresponding with the radial position of space 1 of circular region II of disc B which position is a like reference for the other regions space number designations.

Spaces 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29 and 33 of circular region V of disc B have slots to permit leap year symbols of disc A to appear when a February calendar should indicate a leap year as stated above. These slots are uniquely cut to selectively exhibit only certain of the dots from the corresponding region V of disc A as follows:

(1) Slots in spaces 5 and 21 are cut to view only first and third space positions 1 and h;

(2) Slots in spaces 9 and 25 are cut to view only second and third space positions g and h;

(3) Slots in spaces 13 and 29 are cut to View only second and fourth space positions g and i; and

(4) Slots in spaces 17 and 33 are cut to view only first and fourth positions 1 and i.

Circular region VI of disc B has a perforation or window at space 1, circular region VII of disc B has a window or perforations extending to provide openings through spaces 1-34, and circular region VIII of disc B has similarly open areas for spaces 413.

A third circular member, disc C, is shown in FIG. 3 and its periphery coincides with the inner boundary of circular region II of disc B. It is adapted to be positioned face up over disc B, with disc B, of course, being positioned over disc A, all in co-axial alignment. Circular region III of disc C has space 1 perforated for viewing through to disc B. Spaces 1-10 of circular region IV of disc C are numbered 09, respectively. Spaces 1-10 of regions V, VI, VII and VIII circular regions of disc C are removed to provide a window through to discs A and B. Space counting is as in the case of the other discs, counterclockwise from a reference radial position at space 1 of circular region III.

A fourth circular member or disc D is shown in FIG. 4, it having a periphery coinciding with the inner boundary of the third circular region of disc C. The first space, or any single space, segment of the disc, is removed from periphery toward the center through and including area opposite circular regions VIII of discs, A, B and C.

Discs A-D are employed to determine the day of the week that the first day of the month occurs on of the month and year in question. In order to display that particular month the back of disc A is calibrated or numbered as shown in FIG. 5, a multi-month calendar providing seven selections, each with the first day of the month falling on a different day of the week. It is arranged in 13 columns and 6 rows wherein the digits are progressively positioned in rows to comprise with each different set of adjacent even columns a different column position for each digit and wherein each set of adjacent said columns comprise a 31 day calendar. An overlay circular member E shown in FIG. 5 covers the back of disc A and has a window of a size to permit viewing of a single month selected from the seven month selections possible with the numerals on the back of disc A. By rotating disc E with respect to disc A it will be noted that a 31 day calendar may be chosen with any starting day of the week. While it is admitted that the calendar does not distinguish between 30 and 31 day months, this information is generally known to users, as for example from the phrase Thirty days has September, April, June and November, all the rest have 31 except February. Therefore, February is the only variable, as in a leap year it has 29 days. This variable is taken care of automatically by the calendar as will be hereinafter illustrated and described.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate all discs positioned co-axially and held by a pin P and locking members L together with respect to each of the other discs.

To illustrate the operation of the invention, as an example, Feb. 22, 1964, is chosen. Our question is the day of the week it falls on. First, disc B is rotated until the numeral 19 of disc B is positioned opposite February of disc A. Next discs A and B are held in this position while rotating C until a 6 is visible in outer slot blank in disc C. Next hold discs A, B, and C in this position while rotating disc D until a 4 is visable through a perforation or slot of disc D. Thus we have located Febrauary 1964. Also visible through slot blank of disc D is Saturday from disc A. Saturday, thus indicates that the first day of February 1964 was on Saturday.

As a further feature of the invention to remind one of leap years and in this case that February of 1964 is a leap year, a dot appears through the slot blank of disc D and slot 9 of disc B.

We have thus in a foolproof manner basically determined a calendar for February 1964 without special manipulation because of the leap year problem as aforesaid.

With the information thus obtained the calendar is turned over and disc E rotated with respect to disc A to position a calendar through window blank of disc E wherein the first day of the month is positioned opposite Saturday. The calendar illustrated in the calendar for February 1964 and thus one can determine the correct day of the week that any day in February 1964 occurred and thus we can determine that Feb. 22, 1964, occurred on a Saturday.

The dot denoting a leap year and 29 days for February, only occurs when the month of February is being considered and thus is shown only when of significance.

The radial and circular lines on the circular members, while not essential, assist in alignment of data between members. In regions where no data is contained, these lines serve no purpose other than in explanation of the theory of construction of the calendar.

Various modifications can be made in embodiments of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

A multi-year calendar comprising independently rotatable, adjacent, and co-axially mounted, first, second, third, and fourth circular members and wherein:

(A) first circular member has a first side divided into 64 equal circular segments and wherein on said first side there is included:

(1) A first circular region extending from the periphery toward the center a fixed distance and the segment spaces thus defined in a circular pattern and when counted from a reference radial position in a first circular direction are designated as follows:

(a) a first segment corresponding to said refence radial position and indicating January,

(b) a second segment space, indicating May,

(c) a sixth segment space indicating April and July,

(d) a ninth segment space indicating Febru- (e) a tenth segment space indicating June,

(f) a fourteenth segment place indicating August,

(g) an eighteenth segment space indicating October,

(h) a twenty-second segment space indicating September and December, and

(i) a twenty-sixth segment space indicating March and November,

(2) second, third, fourth and fifth circular regions each being interior of the other in this order, said fifth circular region including leap year designations in segment spaces 9', 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37 and 41, when counted as aforesaid for this circular member, and wherein said leap year designations are distributed into one of four intra-space positions as follows:

(a) said leap year designations in segment spaces 9, 25, and 41 being in a first position,

(b) said leap year designation in segment spaces 17 and 33 being in a second position,

(c) said leap year designations in segment spaces 13 and 29 being in a third position, and

(d) said leap year designations in segment spaces 21 and 37 being in a fourth position;

(3) a sixth circular region adjoining and inward of said fifth circular region and wherein segment spaces counted as aforesaid are designated as follows:

(a) a first segment space indicating Monday,

(b) a fifth segment space indicating Saturday,

(c) a ninth segment space indicating Thursday, and

(d) a sixth-first segment space indicating Wednesday;

(4) a seventh circular region adjoining and inward of said sixth circular region and wherein segment spaces, counted as aforesaid, are designated as follows:

(a) a second segment space indicating Tues- (b) a third segment space indicating Wednesday,

(0) a fourth segment space indicating Thursday,

(d) a sixth segment space indicating Sunday,

(e) a seventh segment space indicating Monday,

(f) a eighth segment space indicating Tues- (g) segment spaces 10 through 59 indicating successive sets of four consecutive days of week wherein the first set commences with Friday and ends with Monday and wherein there is a gap of one day between each set, and

(h) segment spaces 62, 63, and 64 indicate Thursday, Friday and Saturday, respectively;

(5) an eighth circular region adjoining and inward of said seventh circular region and wherein segment spaces counted as aforesaid, are designated as follows:

(a) segment space 1 indicating Sunday,

(b) segment space 4 indicating Friday, and

(c) segment space 7 indicating Wednesday;

(B) The periphery of said second circular member coinciding with and being adjacent to the inner boundary of said first circular region of said first circular member and wherein when one side of said second circular member is viewed in terms of 64 equal circular segments said last named one side includes:

(1) a second circular region extending from the periphery toward the center a fixed distance corresponding in area to said second circular region of said first circular member and having segment spaces therein, when counted from a reference radial position in a said first circular direction, as follows:

(a) a first segment space indicating 19, and (b) a fifth segment space indicating 18;

(2) a third circular region adjoining and inward of said second circular region and having segment spaces therein, when counted from said last named reference radial position as aforesaid, as follows:

(a) a first segment space indicating 0,

(b) a third segment space indicating 3,

(c) a fifth segment space indicating 6,

(d) a seventh segment space indicating 9,

(e) a eleventh segment space indicating 1,

(f) a thirteenth segment space indicating 4,

(g) a fifteenth segment space indicating 7,

(h) a twenty-first segment space indicating 2,

(i) a twenty-third segment space indicating 5,

and

(j) a twenty-fifth segment space indicating 8;

(3) fourth and fifth adjacent circular regions, said last named fifth circular region being interior of said fourth desginated region, said fifth circular region includes slots in segment spaces 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29 and 33, when counted as aforesaid for this circular member, and wherein said segment spaces are positioned to provide openings in terms of said space positions as follows:

(a) slots 5 and 21 providing openings for space positions 1 and 3,

(b) slots 9 and 25 providing openings for space positions 2 and 3,

() slots 13 and 2 providing openings for space positions 2 and 4, and

(d) slots 17 and 33 providing openings for space positions 1 and 4;

(4) a sixth circular region inward of and adjoining said fifth circular region and wherein segment space 1, corresponding with said last named radial reference position is perforated to display, upon alignment, the days of week indications of said sixth circular region of said first circular member;

(5) a seventh circular region inward of and adjoining said sixth circular region and wherein 5 segment spaces 134, when counted from last named radial reference position as aforesaid, are removed;

(6) an eighth circular region inward of and adjoining said seventh circular region and wherein segment spaces 443, when counted from said last named radial reference position as aforesaid, are removed;

(C) the periphery of said third circular member coin ciding with and being adjacent to the inner boundary of said second circular region of said second circular member and wherein when one side of said third circular member is viewed in terms of 64 equal circular segments said last named one side includes:

(1) a third region extending inward from the periphery toward the center a fixed distance corresponding in area to said third circular regions of said first and second circular members and having segment spaces when counted from a reference radial position in a said first circular direction wherein segment space 1 is removed;

(2) a fourth circular region extending inward from said third circular region toward the center a fixed distance corresponding in area with said fourth circular regions of said first and second circular members and having segment spaces, when counted from said last named reference radial position as aforesaid, wherein segment spaces 1-10 indicate numerals 0-9, respectively;

(3) fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth circular regions, corresponding in area to like designated circular regions of said first and second circular members, extending inward toward the center and wherein segment spaces 1-10 of each, when counted from said last named reference 40 radial position as aforesaid, are removed;

(D) the periphery of said fourth circular member coinciding with and being adjacent to the inner boundary of said third circular region of said third circular member and wherein a circular segment space opening extends from the periphery inward across circular regions corresponding to circular regions IV-VHI of said first, second and third circular members; (E) a plurality of digits on the second side of said first circular member arranged in 13 columns and 6 rows wherein any adjacent set of 7 columns comprises a 31 day set of monthly calendar numbers and wherein with shift in sets from left to right the first day of the indicated month shifts in day of week 5 position in reverse sequence; and

(F) a fifth circular member co-axially joined with said first, second, third, and fourth circular member, is positioned adjacent to said second side of said first circular member, and wherein said fifth circular member has an aperture through which seven adjacent said columns are selectively viewable as a said set of calendar numbers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,000,365 5/1935 Turnbaugh 40-115 2,507,697 5/1950 Donow 40-115 w. J. CONTRERAS, Examiner. EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

